Northern states are overdrawing excessive power from the Centre’s grid denying Maharashtra its due share. As a result of this indiscipline, the state network tripped almost every hour since August 9.
The State Energy Minister Sunil Tatkare has reported the matter to the Union Power
Ministry asking it to take punitive action against the erring northern states.
Maharashtra already faces a demand-supply gap. The power cuts are effective in most parts of the state as per directives issued by Maharashtra State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Maharashtra gets about a daily quota of 2,900 mega watts from the Centre’s grid.
The Central Electricity Authority bars overdrawing power and it also levies fine for it. The levy has to be paid by the companies and the utilities/state are not allowed to recover fine from their respective consumers.
The grid is experiencing continuous low frequency operations for most of the time since last 10 days. The problems reached its peak in last four days when state network tripped - 25 times on August 12, 18 times on August 11, 14 times on August 14 and 11 times on August 9 - for lack of adequate power that is needed to run transmission smoothly.
“It is observed from the official data that the other state’s are not observing grid discipline and overdrawing at low frequency. It would be noticed that in all such instances of low frequency, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company has been observing grid discipline,” said Tatkare in his letter to Union Power Minister Sushil kumar Shinde.
The company has to utilise extra hydro-generation to mitigate the gap.
Till date the state has utilised 25 per cent of the allotted yearly quantum of water. State’s water reservoirs didn’t have adequate storage due to low rainfall.
“The system is in a critical stage of operation and may lead to major grid disturbances and also continuous low frequency operation is a severe threat to system security,” Tatkare said in the letter.